Managing Exercise in Eating Disorder Treatment and Adapting Treatment for Athletes

Compulsive exercise, a common eating disorder (ED) symptom, may contribute to protracted illness and poor treatment outcomes. Currently, there is no consensus or robust evidence base for best practices in addressing exercise within ED treatment, a challenge that becomes even more complex when treating athletes. This clinical review synthesizes current evidence regarding how exercise is managed in ED treatment and provides recommendations around best practices in screening, treatment, and return to play (as applicable). Additionally, we propose directions for future research to advance treatment approaches for compulsive exercise, both in general ED populations and in athlete-specific contexts.